Movable shower curtain rod



Aug. 20, 1935. w. o. THOMPSON MOVABLE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD This invention pertains to'curtain Patented Aug. 20, 1935 2,011,662 MOVABLE, SHGWER CURTAIN ROD William 0. Thompson, Pittsburgh, Pa, assigncr to Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company,

a corporation of New Jersey Application May 2, 1934, Serial No. 723,511

13 Claims. (Cl. 4-154) rods for a bathing space, and more particularly, to movable curtain rods and to thosewhich may be adjusted to various positions.

Heretofore, rods for shower baths have been of a stationary type and of a recess corner or pier pattern. Such rods function to support a curtain of duck, canvas, or some othersuit-v able material, which in turn, functions to insure more privacy for an individual taking a bath and to confine thesoap and water used within certain desired limits. I

i I have found that the present stationary curtain rods have certain disadvantageous features which limit their application and use.

In the first place, since the rods are fixed in position, it is necessary toprovide curtain hang rings, or some other like means, which may be opened or moved apart to permit a side removal of the curtain for laundering. It is tedione work to remove a plurality of such rings over the diameter of acurtain rod, and not only entails a considerable expenditure of time, but also is conducive to finger injury, particularly, if therings are of the safety pin type.

Ln the second place, a curtain rod of the stationary type must be mounted in a position which will enable an occupant to freely enter and leave the bathing space and to do so without injury to head and limb. If the curtain rod is mounted too low, it will notsufiiciently retain the water when the occupant is taking a shower, and must be stepped over bythe occupant when entering leaving the space. If the curtain is too high,

. it hinders the entry of suflicient light, and if placed in an intermediateposition, will serve as a hazard to the occupantshead.

The above-mentioned features are of essential importance under normal conditions met in shower bathing, and especially soQwhere the bathing'spaceis formed by. three sides or. even a portion of a fourth side of, the walls of a room. It is thus seen that the question of 'sufiicient light within the bathing space becomes of utmost importance, and since water and electricity make a dangerous combination, it has been customary the main portion of the bathroom.

:to utilize} the artificial or natural light furnished Another disadvantage of. the present curtain rod structures is that they are not. readily enough adaptable to meetvarious requirements. At the present time, it is, necessary to manufacture a number of-differentsizes and lengths of rods and to stock them to meet the demands. of different types and: sizes of bathing: spaces and/or tubs.

And, each rod has little adaptability for mounting in a number of positions upon the walls of a given bathing space.

On entering and leaving a tub of a shower bathing space, the occupant frequently needs a grab bar or rail to steady himor her and to prevent slipping. The present type of curtain rail cannot so function because of its stationary and hard-to-reach position.

And, it has been an object of my invention to provide a new and improved form of curtain rod, especially suitable for shower bathing.

, Another [object has been to provide a curtain rod for a bathing space which may be effectively employed although mounted in position for allowing the entry of more light.

A further object of my invention has been to i provide a curtain rod which may be moved to a position suitable for service as a grab rail.

A further object of myinvention has been the provision of a curtain rod for bathing requirements which will enable the curtain to be slid off and on endwise thereof.

A still further object has been to provide a more eihcient, effective, and. adaptable form of curtain rod.

These and many other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal plan view of an illustrated embodiment of my invention;

2 is a longitudinal side view, partially in section, of the embodiment of Fig.1;

Fig. 2a is a longitudinal side view in section of another embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 3 is a side perspective view in elevation of a bathing space and illustrating an employment of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrative of certain details; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmental side perspective viewof a.- modified form of detail of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. r

In carrying out the illustrated embodiments of my invention, I contemplate the employment of a curtain rod which'at one end may be'mounted upon thewall of a bathing space and which at its other end, may be removably supported by one or more posts having one or more positions upon walls of the space. I may also employ a bathing curtain of duck or some other suitable material, which may be a lower of the curtain rod, and which may be movably adjusted along such length. I I And, in accordancewith the principles of my invention, I have, forthe purpose of illustration,

shown a telescoping type of'curtain rod struc ture which includes a number of elements that are movable with respect to each other, andthat y are also readily removable from their supporting "structure. I 1 ,I I t I I I In the embodiment illustratedjin Figuresl and 2, I have provided a telescoping rod or member in having an innerlongitudinal extending tube ll, an intermediate tube I3, and an-outer tube IS; The :tubes are slidable with respect to each other for adjusting the rod to a number of lon-' gitudinal positions. To aid'in such a sliding movement,,the intermediate tube l3 andthe out-- .er tube it have at one end been providedrwith inwardly projecting annular flanges Hi andflil,

slide surfaces and respectivelywhich serve as I I the longitudinalv which tend to offset or space 1 lengths of the tubes with respectto each other.

In order that the tubesof the rod structure In may have the same relative position at each end of the rod, I-have provided the innertube l I with "a slightly offset annulus portion l2 and the in- Jt'ermediate'tube I3 with an onset annulus portion l5; these annulus portions lie adjacent the other 1 end of the rod ill. It'will thusappear that the tration, a p'articulartype oi offset at each end 'of the unit so o portion l2 andlSwill provide the necessary frictional slide surfaces for onefend of the rod IQ, and that they." may be employed to provide any required'retardation of the telescopic action of the members.- 1 t, Although I have shown for the purpose of illus-- I HL'itwill appear to those skilled in the'art that the offsetting maybe reversedas far the ,ends are concerned, and/or changed in' o-rder to accomplish desired results, suchas to lock the portions of the rod in certain desired expanded and/or contr'acted positions. The: de-

' scription deals with a telescopic and movable curtain rod whichmay' serve as a grab rail.

In order that the unit in. may be suitably mounted on the wall structure of a bathing space, I have at one end thereof provided a mount element havingja sleeve-like portion [8; whichis inwardly threaded to rerhdvably receive the threaded end of the outer tube l6. As seen, the I postwhose flange'or escutcheon 23may be drilled 'toIreceive any suitable securing meanssuch as oval head screws or bolts 24, ,As shown, the wall post has an intermediate neck portion terminat-v ingin abifurcated end 22, whosegroove' is adaptedtoreceive thetongue-like portion IQ of the adjacent mount element. A'set' screw,,pivot,

7 hinge hm; and/orconnection, lug 2| extends downwardly through a vdrilled'out portion of the top bifurcation of the wall post' 22-23, through a drilled-outportion inthej tongue l9, and is threaded within the'lower bifurcation of the post. In this manner, the rod 10 maybe said to be movably orpivotally secured to the ,wall of abathing space ,by male andfemale connecting I the lug 2| to clear the horizontal face of the hood 2'! of plurality. "of curtain;

members. As seen, the spacing between the bifurcations of portion 22 is preferably slightly greater than the thickness of the tongue portion IS, in order that the rod l0 may be lifted about hook of an opposite post 3 l--32, and thence, may

Figure 3 by turning it In order that the oppositeend of the rod l0 may be, suitably supported, I. have provided a mount element 26-41 having at one end a chamber or sleeve-like portion 26 which is inwardly threaded toremovably receive the threaded end of the inner tube ll. As shown (see Fig. 2), the sleeve-like portion is somewhat offsetly chambered'out near the open end 28 thereof, in order I be moved to a new positionysuch as 3l-32' of about the lug-as a pivot point.

that the outer tube It and intermediate tube l3 1 may slide therewithin. Like the opposite element l8'! 9, this mount 'elementmay be provided with a downwardly projecting curtain ring receiving eye-lug- 29. Theother end of themount element '26 -2l' .has a somewhat hood-like portion 21 whosehorizontal face is adapted to rest upon a suitable wall post 3l -32'and is centrally drilledv out to receive a latch or hook me1nberi30. If desired, the hook-like portion may be provided with an open side or end, in order that the rod It may n be removed Without lifting it off latch projection 30. I

Thehook post3 l--.32 maybe provided'with an escutcheon' or flange plate '32 which is drilled out to receive any suitable'securing means such asoval head screws or bolts 33.

'- The post 3l-32 also has a downwardly curved intermediate neck portion which terminates in upon which the the mount elea horizontal support face 3|,

ment. is adapted to rest.

In order to temporarily, at least, prevent the mount element 26- 21' from being pushed or knocked oil the hook'post 31-32, I have pro- .vided a small set screw-like, upwardly extending lug or post' 39 which is threaded into the upper horizontal face 3l' of the post. The chambered or drilled out'hood 21 receives mount element 30, and for this reason, can only be removed therefrom when raised upwardly to clear the latter.

That is, the rodlll is normally held in a latched or hooked position by its own weight and by the weight of the curtain 38. It cannot be knocked off post iii- 32 when hit sideways, but may be readily removed by lifting it about pivot lug 2| the distance necessary to clear lug 30; I

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, I have provided a slide,- rings 34 of suitable form which are adapted to hang from the rod I 0 along a plurality of points of the length thereof for supporting a bathing curtain'BO.

" In the modification of Fig. 2a, I have employed only two longitudinal slide members t I and Hi.

This construction may be advantageous from the standpoint of manufacturing cost in that the intermediate member iii of the embodiment of Fig.2 has been eliminated. 'Thentoo,.it isjnot necessary to employ means suchas'fianges' l2,

l4, 15,.and l1 of Fig. 2, inorder' to retard one member such as for a sufficient portion of its length, and in-order to cause the next member such as l3 to be pulled I out for a sufficient portion ot it's length. However, if it appears advantageous, the members! I and I6 may be provided with suitable retarding means, in order to prevent the unit from being completely'pulled apart.

From the construction-and design of the illuslfi afterit has been pulled out trated embodiments of my invention, it is now possible for the first time, toremove a bathing U curtain endwise from a curtain rod. To do this,

it is only necessary to move each end hinge-ring 35 about its pivot point to open it, to raise the rod ll! off post St-32, and then, to slide the plurality of remaining slide rings 34 off and over the mount element 26-41 of rail Ill. Since the assembly including slide rings 34 and curtain 39 may he slid endwise ofi the rod it, I do not need to make provision for an opening of these rings. It will thus appear that the small -a. spacing between the opposite ends of a ring 34 need only be sufiicient to permit its removal from H tain and'may be securely fastened at a tub ltpopposite'walls ti anddZ, a suitable shower spray M, and a water faucet the curtain rod l after the occupant an eyelet 3? of edge portion 38 of the curtain after the ring has-been removed from rod I 0. This spacing, of course, not sufiiciently wide to hinder free movementof the ring 34 along rod H).

The present construction also makes possible for the first time the utilization of continuous and non-opening'rings, as well as curtain straps 35 instead of removable rings. These straps 35 may be formed of the same material as the curboth ends to the upper edge 38 of such a curtain (see Fig. 6). It will thus appear thatmy invention makes possible the employment of a, wider range of curv tain ring constructions, and that the invention is not limited to any particular type of ring. In Fig. 3 I have shown a bathing space having a back 33,

d5. In-this layout, I have shown an application of the illustrative embodiment of my invention. As seen, the dotted-lines represent the position of has entered 4 the, bathing space and wishes to close it off, and

ing the bathing space.

'a grab rail and invention, I have provided fit in almost any position,

, sufiicient to retain the water. If a the full line position shows the location of the rod prior to entry or when the occupant is leav- In this position, it will appear that therod. may conveniently serve as thus accomplish an additional function. In this illustrative application of my two hook posts, one 3l32 which is mounted on wall M, opposite to the hinge post 2223,' and another, 3l32' which is mounted directly opposite to, but on the same wall as the hinge post 22-23. However, in accordance With the teachings of my invention, anysuitable'number of hook posts may be provided to meet thedemands of a given situation, or of a certain type of bathing space. By reason of the telescopic nature of the rod, it is now,

possible for the occupant to adjust the rail to irrespective of the width or size or relative proportions of the bathing space.

My invention, as seen from Fig. 3, also makes possible the utilization of more light, in that it leaves a greater space betweenthe ceiling and the top of the rod. The curtain 30 has-a height bather wishes to only utilize the tub faucet 45, the rail l0 may remain in the full line position shown. Of course the rail l 9 may also serve as a towel rack.

It will thus appear that the parts employed in the illustrated embodiments of my invention are efiectivelyand strongly constructed, in order that they may be used in at least the two important capacities above-designated. Thus, the usual flimsy type of curtain rod construction has been eliminated in order that the rod may be employed as a grab rail, in addition to being employed as a curtain and/or towel rail.

While I have described certain illustrative emtion mounting said first-mentioned position,

bodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications, changes, substitutions, additions, and omissions, or combinations thereof, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bathing space having suitable wall and open portions, a rod adapted to be mounted at more than one position with respect to the bathing space,,means for at one position mounting said rod across the open portion, whereby it may serve as a curtain rod, and for at another posi tion mounting said rod adjacent a wall of the space, whereby it may serve as a grab rail for a person utilizing the bathing space.

2. In a bathing space having suitable wall and open portions, a rod adapted to be mounted at more than one position with respect to the bathing space, means for at one position mounting said rod across the open portion whereby it may serve as a curtain rod, and for at another posirod adjacent a wall of the space, whereby it may serve as a grab rail for a person utilizing the bathing space, said rod having portions slidable with respect to each other, whereby it may be adjusted to conform to'various widths of a bathing space.

3. In a bathing space having suitable wall and open portions, a rod movable to a position across an open portion and to a position adjacent a wall portion, and means for removably supporting said rod at each of said positions, whereby said rod may serve as a curtain rod when in said and whereby it will be out of the way of a person entering and leaving the bathing space and may serve as a grab rail when in said second-mentioned position.

4. In a bathing space having suitable walls and an open portion, a curtain rod movably mounted at one end thereof adjacent a wall and movable from a position extending across the open portion to a position extending along a Wall of a space, post means mounted at spaced locations about the bathing space, whereby one post means will removably hold the other end of said rod when said rod is positioned to extend across the open portion of the space, and whereby another post means will removably hold said other end. when said rod is positioned to extend along a wall of the space, so that said rod may serve as a curtain rod in one position and as a grab rail in another position.

mounted onone wall and movable froma position extending across the open wall to a position adjacent an enclosing wall of the space, post means mounted on an opposite wallof the space for removably receiving said rod when in said first-mentioned position, and a post mounted upon an enclosing wall at a spaced relationship with respect to said pivot mounting for removably receiving said rod when in said second-mentioned position, said rod serving as a curtain rod and grab rail when in said first mentioned position and serving as a grab rail when in said second-mentioned position.

6. In a curtain rod for a bathing space having suitable walls, a longitudinally extending rod, said rod having a plurality of members, at least one of which is slidable with respect to another, a mount element secured to one of said members, a support post mounted on a wall of the space for the opposite side wall ,of the space and being mounted, adjacent the openfront wall, said post supporting said 'mountielement, another mount element mounted upon another member adjacent the other end of said rod; additional-posts mount: 1

ed -,upon walls of the bathingfspace, saidslast- :inentio-ned mount element havingmeans ,for cooperating with each-ofsaid last-mentioned posts,

said rod being movablefrom one of said last-,mentioned posts to another. I

'7. 'Inabathing, space having a, back wa1l,,op-

posite side walls,"a n open front wall, and a tub at the bottomthereofas well a shower spray extending from at least one of its Walls, a tel:

esoopic curtain rod, a,suitab-le 'curtainjremovably hung therefrom, means p votally; and remmlably mounting one end of saidrod uponthe portion of asideowall of] the bathing space adjacent the open front wall; a post member extending, from having means for removably holding the other end of said rod thereupon, a similar post;-me mber mounted on the same side wall of the bathing space as said'pivot means and being mounted adjacent the rea well thereof for removablyholding said rod thereon, said-rod being movable about, said pivotmeans from onelpost to another, so that said rod may serve to close ofi the opening of the front wall while an occupant is taking a I shower, so that-said rod may beirnoved away from the opening thereafter to permit the occupant to freely leave the tub, and'so that said rod'may be moved to a position alongone of the side walls to I serve as a grab rail; when the "occupant is entering and leaving 'the'tubp 8. In a curtain'rod for a bathing space having I hook post adapted to be mounted on the wall p0rtion at a spaced positio'n'with. respect to said first-- -men'tio'ned post, ;a hood-like female element extending from anotherportionof said rod, said "pin extending acrossthe bifurcations of said post hook post having a male element cooperating with the female elementof said rod and preventing aisidewise removal thereof while allowing an upward removal thereof and whereby said male and female elements will be protected from.

sediment.

9. In ctr-airt m for wh n] sta e hav} ing suitable walls,',the combination of alongitudinally extending rod, a bifurcated post adapted to be mounted upon a wall of thebathing space, tongue meansnmounted Oiljthfi rod and extend-, ing from one end thereof for cooperatingwith the bifurcations ofisaidpost, a removable pivot movably mounting said rod. thereon,

' wall of the bathing and through saidrtongue for apivotaiiy and 1'6? a hook post aldaptedto be mounted'on a wall of the'oompartment, a hood-like female element extending from another portion of, said rod,said hook post having a male element for cooperating with the female element ofsaid-rod and preventinga sidewise removal thereof while allowing'an upward em va f e ct, I i f a 1 3 l0, In a "curtain rod for a bathing space having suitable walls,the combination of means including a tongue'and groove connection for pivotally mounting said rod at one end thereof upon a space, said means having an eye extension for receiving an end hook of a bathing curtain, a plurality of hooksslidably mounted upon the rod and hanging a curtain therefrom a1 plurality of support members mounted upon walls of the'compartment'means extending from a portion of said rod for cooperat ing with an adjacent-support member, I so that said portion ofsaid'rod may beremovably supported thereon, an eye means extending from said last-mentioned means for receiving an end hoolrof the bathingcurtain, and means included in said rod for adjusting it to positions to cooperateat one portion thereof with any of said support members, so that'saidrod may: serve as a curtain rod in one position and mayserve as a I grab, rail in another position.

suitable walls, the combination of at least three slide members, eachof said'members having a telescopic relationshipwith respectj'toeaoh other, and means for limiting the-maximum. telescopic expansion or" said members.

12. In a curtain rod for a sleeve like members mounted in a sliding relationship with respect to each other, means for mounting said sleeve-like fmembers upon the walls ,of ,acompartment, and means extending from said sleeve like members and/cooperating with eaoh' other for limiting the maximum out ward slide of saidsleve-like members with respectto each other. I l

' 13. In a curtain rod for a bathing space'having suitable walls, the combination of a plurality of rod members, atgleastjone of which is slidable with respect to another, means mounting said rod members upon a'wall of the compartment, at least means fof removablymounting theother end of saidrod members.

W LmAM o. THOMPSON.

' lljIn a curtain rod for a bathing: space having I a bathing space hav- 1 ing suitable walls, a plurality of longitudinal 

